Divine Authority: The Clarity and Reliability of Scripture

 

Summary

In our exploration of the existence of God and the nature of Scripture, we encounter a profound clash of worldviews. Emanuel Kant's agnostic stance suggests that God's existence cannot be known through theoretical thought or empirical investigation. In contrast, the Apostle Paul asserts that not only can we know God exists, but we do so clearly through His self-revelation, both in nature and through Scripture. This revelation, however, is often met with resistance due to our inherent fallenness and desire to escape divine accountability.

The Bible, often dismissed as myth or legend, claims to be the very word of God. This claim is not merely a matter of personal belief but a question of truth. If the Bible is indeed God's communication, it demands our utmost attention and reverence. The Apostle Peter and Jesus Himself affirm the truthfulness and authority of Scripture, challenging us to consider its claims seriously.

The reliability of the Bible as a historical document is crucial. If it is not even basically reliable, it holds no value. However, historical and archaeological evidence supports its credibility, with scholars like William Foxwell Albright and Abraham Heshel acknowledging its trustworthiness. Jesus, regarded as a prophet even by non-Christians, taught the Scriptures as the infallible word of God, underscoring their divine authority.

Our struggle with Scripture often stems from ignorance, not just of its content but of its implications. This ignorance is a result of our tendency to ignore Scripture, preferring autonomy over submission to divine authority. The Ten Commandments, for instance, are not just rules but a reflection of God's character and our need for Him. Our failure to live by them reveals our deeper need for grace and transformation.

Ultimately, the issue is one of authority: who is sovereign, God or ourselves? If God is sovereign, His word is binding, and we must align our lives with His truth. If we choose personal autonomy, we risk living in denial of ultimate reality. The stakes are high, and the choice is ours.

Key Takeaways:

1. The Clarity of God's Revelation: Despite Kant's agnosticism, Paul insists that God's existence is clearly revealed through nature and Scripture. This revelation is not obscure but evident, leaving humanity without excuse. Our resistance to this truth is rooted in our fallen nature, which seeks to suppress and escape divine accountability. [01:28]

2. The Authority of Scripture: The Bible's claim to be God's word is not a matter of personal preference but a question of truth. If it is indeed divine communication, it demands our reverence and obedience. The authority of Scripture is affirmed by Jesus and the apostles, challenging us to take its claims seriously. [09:26]

3. The Reliability of the Bible: The Bible's historical reliability is crucial to its credibility. Scholars and archaeologists have affirmed its trustworthiness, with figures like Albright and Heshel recognizing its accuracy. This reliability supports the Bible's claim to be more than myth or legend. [13:01]

4. Ignorance and Autonomy: Our ignorance of Scripture often stems from our desire for autonomy. We ignore God's word because we resist its authority over our lives. This ignorance is not just a lack of knowledge but a willful neglect of divine truth. [25:15]

5. The Question of Sovereignty: The ultimate issue is one of authority: is God sovereign, or are we? If God is sovereign, His word is binding, and we must submit to His authority. Choosing personal autonomy leads to a denial of ultimate reality and the risk of living in falsehood. [27:18]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:42] - The Clash of Worldviews
- [01:28] - Nature's Silent Revelation
- [02:31] - Psychological Resistance to God
- [03:18] - Human Fallenness and Repression
- [04:09] - The Authority of God's Word
- [05:01] - The Bible: Myth or Truth?
- [05:50] - Student Perspectives on Scripture
- [08:23] - The Nature of Truth
- [09:26] - The Claims of Scripture
- [10:16] - The Sanctity of Truth
- [11:05] - Jesus and the Truth
- [12:14] - Evidence for Scripture's Integrity
- [13:01] - Historical Reliability of the Bible
- [14:36] - The Historical Jesus
- [16:18] - Jesus as Prophet
- [17:08] - Jesus' Teaching on Scripture
- [18:42] - The Church's Regard for Scripture
- [19:17] - Ignorance of Scripture
- [20:04] - The Ten Commandments
- [23:02] - The Rich Young Ruler
- [25:15] - Ignorance and Autonomy
- [27:18] - The Question of Sovereignty

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. Romans 1:18-20
2. Psalm 19:1
3. 2 Peter 1:16

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Observation Questions:

1. How does the Apostle Paul describe God's revelation in nature according to Romans 1? What does this imply about humanity's awareness of God? [01:28]

2. In the sermon, what reasons are given for why people might resist acknowledging the truth of God's revelation? [02:31]

3. What claims does the Bible make about itself, and how do figures like the Apostle Peter support these claims? [09:26]

4. How does the sermon describe the reliability of the Bible as a historical document, and what evidence is presented to support this? [13:01]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. What does it mean for God's revelation to be "clear" and "evident" as described in Romans 1, and how does this clarity impact our responsibility to respond to it? [01:28]

2. How does the sermon suggest that our desire for autonomy affects our understanding and acceptance of Scripture? [25:15]

3. In what ways does the authority of Scripture challenge modern views of personal autonomy and truth? [09:26]

4. How does the historical reliability of the Bible influence its authority and our willingness to accept its teachings? [13:01]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a time when you felt resistant to a truth in Scripture. What was the underlying reason for your resistance, and how did you address it? [02:31]

2. How can you cultivate a habit of reverence and obedience to Scripture in your daily life, especially when faced with cultural pressures to dismiss it? [09:26]

3. Consider the role of historical and archaeological evidence in your faith journey. How does this evidence strengthen your trust in the Bible? [13:01]

4. In what ways can you actively combat ignorance of Scripture in your life? What practical steps can you take to deepen your understanding of the Bible? [25:15]

5. How do you balance the desire for personal autonomy with the call to submit to God's authority as revealed in Scripture? [27:18]

6. Identify an area of your life where you struggle with the concept of God's sovereignty. How can you work towards aligning your actions with His authority? [27:18]

7. Think of a specific commandment or teaching in the Bible that you find challenging. What steps can you take to better understand and apply it in your life? [20:04]

Devotional

Day 1: The Clarity of God's Revelation
God's existence is not hidden or obscure; it is clearly revealed through both nature and Scripture. The Apostle Paul emphasizes that this revelation leaves humanity without excuse, as it is evident in the world around us. However, our fallen nature often leads us to resist this truth, seeking to suppress and escape divine accountability. This resistance is not due to a lack of evidence but rather a willful denial of what is plainly seen. Recognizing God's revelation requires humility and a willingness to confront our own biases and desires for autonomy. [01:28]

"For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse." (Romans 1:19-20, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways have you seen God's presence in nature today, and how can you acknowledge His revelation in your daily life?


Day 2: The Authority of Scripture
The Bible claims to be the very word of God, a claim that demands our attention and reverence if true. This is not merely a matter of personal belief but a question of truth. Jesus and the apostles affirm the authority of Scripture, challenging us to take its claims seriously. If the Bible is indeed divine communication, it requires our obedience and alignment with its teachings. Ignoring its authority is not just a matter of preference but a denial of its truthfulness and significance. [09:26]

"All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work." (2 Timothy 3:16-17, ESV)

Reflection: What specific teaching from Scripture have you been resisting, and how can you begin to submit to its authority today?


Day 3: The Reliability of the Bible
The historical reliability of the Bible is crucial to its credibility. Scholars and archaeologists have affirmed its trustworthiness, with figures like William Foxwell Albright and Abraham Heshel recognizing its accuracy. This reliability supports the Bible's claim to be more than myth or legend. If the Bible is historically reliable, it strengthens its authority and the truth of its message. Understanding its historical context and evidence can deepen our faith and trust in its teachings. [13:01]

"For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope." (Romans 15:4, ESV)

Reflection: How can you incorporate the historical context of the Bible into your study to enhance your understanding and faith?


Day 4: Ignorance and Autonomy
Our ignorance of Scripture often stems from a desire for autonomy. We resist its authority over our lives, preferring to live according to our own rules. This ignorance is not just a lack of knowledge but a willful neglect of divine truth. The Ten Commandments, for example, are not just rules but a reflection of God's character and our need for Him. Recognizing our ignorance and choosing to engage with Scripture can lead to transformation and a deeper relationship with God. [25:15]

"My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you have rejected knowledge, I reject you from being a priest to me. And since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children." (Hosea 4:6, ESV)

Reflection: What steps can you take today to overcome ignorance of Scripture and embrace its teachings in your life?


Day 5: The Question of Sovereignty
The ultimate issue is one of authority: is God sovereign, or are we? If God is sovereign, His word is binding, and we must submit to His authority. Choosing personal autonomy leads to a denial of ultimate reality and the risk of living in falsehood. The stakes are high, and the choice is ours. Embracing God's sovereignty means aligning our lives with His truth and recognizing His rightful place as Lord over all. [27:18]

"But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, 'Why have you made me like this?' Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use?" (Romans 9:20-21, ESV)

Reflection: In what area of your life are you struggling to acknowledge God's sovereignty, and how can you begin to surrender that area to Him today?

Quotes



Because, Paul insists that God who is discloses Himself. He reveals Himself. And we examined that briefly in Romans chapter 1 of the New Testament. But the revelation that Paul is speaking of there is a silent revelation. It is a revelation that comes through the medium of nature. As the Psalmist in the Old Testament declared, “The heavens declare the glory of God and the firmament shows forth His handiwork.” Do you see that that’s a muted testimony? It’s a non-verbal evidence. [00:00:56]

There’s a sense in which we don’t want the word of God to be true. And there’s this obvious reason for that, because when we come to the Scriptures we soon discover as much as we want to criticize them, that they are criticizing us. Paul in that first chapter to the Romans, after he describes this revelation that comes to nature says later on in verse 28, “And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge.” [00:03:18]

Beloved, if God says it it’s settled whether I believe it or not. If the omniscient Creator of heaven and earth opens His sacred mouth and utters a single word, the debate is over. What fool in his madness would think that he could debate with an eternal omniscient being? But the question is not if it’s settled once God says it but the question today is has He said anything? [00:04:48]

Obviously, I would think it would be obvious, that if the Bible is what it claims to be nothing less than communication from Almighty God, it is anything but a matter of recreation. But again, here we see the conflict, the collision between worldviews, don’t we? Not everybody agrees on the nature of Scripture. Scripture makes claims for itself. [00:09:09]

The Apostle Peter makes the observation in his writings in the New Testament as he says to those who receive his information, “We are testifying to you not cunningly devised myths and fables, but we declare unto you what we have seen with our eyes, and what we have heard with our ears.” Do you see the antithesis? Peter says you may say this is myth; you may say this is fable, but Peter was prepared to die for its truthfulness. [00:09:45]

Now obviously in this short period of time I can’t give you a full fledged apologetic for the integrity of sacred Scripture, but let me just give you a brief outline of how the church has proceeded historically to the conclusion that the Bible is not myth, that it is not fable, that it is not legend, and that it is truth, and that it is infallible truth. [00:12:39]

There is no book, no history of any individual more verified and attested in all time than Jesus of Nazareth. No truth claim ever been subjected to such detailed analysis, such meticulous scholarship as those found in sacred Scripture. And it is just simply irresponsible to dismiss it. Now, if it is basically reliable, just basic reliability is as reliable as Tacitus or Heroditus or some other historian. [00:14:22]

If a prophet, then He was a man who is committed carefully to speak the truth. Then we move to the next step. What was the teaching of Jesus with respect to the Scriptures? Do you see how we’re progressing? General reliability, the general picture of Jesus, to the question of what does Jesus teach about the nature of Scripture. [00:17:02]

Jesus said, “This word cannot be broken. This word must be fulfilled. These words are life themselves.” And so what I’m trying to do in shorthand version for you here is simply to say that the major reason why the church has come to such a high regard for sacred Scripture is in direct link to the regard that the church has for the integrity of Jesus. [00:18:27]

We don’t struggle with the law of God or with the word of God primarily because we’re ignorant of it. I don’t think there’s been a period in church history of more pervasive ignorance of the content of Scripture than today in our own culture. And you know the word ignorant comes from the Latin ignoramus, which means aganosko in Greek -- without knowledge. [00:24:56]

The primary motivating driving cause for ignorance of anything is the ignoring of the subject. We’re ignorant of Scripture because we ignore the Scripture. And as the Apostle said, we’re proving it with our lives. We don’t want to retain God in our thinking. We want to banish Him from intruding into our presence, particularly when He comes to speak of law. [00:25:52]

Who is sovereign? Is it God who is and who speaks? Or am I sovereign exercising personal autonomy where I am a law unto myself to do what I want to do because I want to do it. If that’s where we are, then there’s a lot at stake for us, and we better hope, and of course, prayer would be a waste of time. [00:27:08]

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Transcript
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